Radio apparatus



Nov. 30, 1937. A GOULD 2,100,659

RADIO APPARATUS Filed.April 23, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l awvcutoz Guam 1215 L. A GOULD RADIO APPARATUS Nov. 30, 1937.

Filed A rii 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 30, 1937 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE RADIO APPARATUS Application April 23, 1925, SerialNo. 25,253

8 Claims.

This invention relates to radio receiving mechanism, and particularly toa control device therefor, and has for an object to provide a controlfor the tuning device or devices of a receivin set which will greatlysimplify the operation of tuning the set for different stations.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a control for thetuning device or devices in which the dials for the condensers orvariometers are eliminated, and in which the tuning devices may beadjusted from a distance and through the medium of a single controldevice connected with the set by a flexible connection.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a means for adjustingthe device or devices to perform the tuning operations which will notcause the set to squeal or howl as it very often does when the dials aretwirled or operated too rapidly in the operation of tuning, and it willthus prevent the set from sending out radio frequency oscillations tointerfere with neighboring sets.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised a controlmechanism one embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings forming apart of this specification, similar referencecharacters being employed throughout the various figures to indicatecorresponding elements. In these drawings,

Fig.'1 is a diagrammatic view of a radio receiving set indicating inoutline how my improved control and adjusting device may be appliedthereto.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the cabinet which may be used to house a setcontrolled by my improved mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a detail of a portion of one form of an indicating device.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the cabinet for a receiving set showing oneform of my improved controlling mechanism mounted therein, the tubes,coils and other devices of the set being omitted.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through one form of a remote controldevice.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section substantially on line |'l of Fig. 6.

Fig, 8 is a, longitudinal section of the control device substantially online 88 of Fig. 6 and indicating diagrammatically a control for thefirst radio frequency tube, and

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the remote control substantiallyon line 9-9 of Fig. 6,

Referring to Fig. l, I have shown in this figure a wiring diagram formerely one type of radio receiving set, it being understood that thisparticular layout is shown merely for the purpose of illustrating myinvention, and that my lnven 5 tion may be applied to all types ofreceiving sets. In this set a pair of audio frequency transformer coilsare shown at TI and T2, and at RI, R2 and R3 are shown radio frequencytransformers with variable condensers Cl, C2 and C3 connected 10 acrossthe secondaries of these transformers, and the sockets for the varioustubes are shown at Ml, M2, M3, M4 and M5. In the embodiment illustratedthere is connected to the shafts SI S2 and S3 carrying the movableplates of these con- 15 densers worm gears l0 meshing with worms llmounted on shaft sections l2 connected to a. worm gear [3 which mesheswith a worm M on the shaft I5 of an electric motor IS. The shaftsections I2 may be a single continuous shaft but 20 I prefer to providea short section for each tuning device and then connect the sectionstogether by detachable couplings l1, these couplings in the presentdevice being short collars clamped to the adjacent ends of the shaftsections by set screws 25 I8. By this arrangement the tuning devices,either variable condensers or variometers, may be mounted in separateboxes or containers IS with the shaft section l3 mounted therein andhaving driving connection with the movable ele- 30 ment of the tuningdevice through the worm II and gear I0, so that each tuning device is aseparate and distinct unit which may be mounted as a complete assemblyor unit in the cabinet, and by merely duplicating these units and con-35 necting the shaft sections together as many may be used as founddesirable or required for the particular layout used. It will beapparent that all of these condensers or variometers will be adjusted bythe motor I6. 40

This motor is also mounted within the set cabinet, but it is preferablyenclosed in a lead cabinet or box 20 to prevent interference of themotor with the other devices in the cabinet, and the motor should bemounted on a rubber or fibre 45 base 2| to absorb vibration and reducethe noise of operation. The motor shown is a shunt wound motor, thearmature leads being shown at 22 and 23. and the field leads at 24 and25. This motor is controlled by a remote control device, shown 50 morein detail in Figs. 6 to 9, which is adapted to be held in the hand ofthe operator and at any convenient distance from the cabinet desired.This control device is connected with the mo r and any other device withwhich it is to 66 be operated by flexible leads in a cord 26. In thelayout illustrated this control comprises an insulating block 21 made intwo sections, the upper one of which carries four stationary contacts 28cross connected as indicated in Fig. 4, and mounted to slide betweenthese contacts is a pair of slidable contacts 29 connected to a button30 exposed on the outside of the control device, so that these contactsmay he slid back and forth to engage either the outer or inner pair ofcontacts 2B and control the operation of the motor,

. to which they are connected by the lead wires 3 l through the battery32 as indicated. In other words, this switch provides a reversing switchwhich will operate the motor in either direction depending upon whichpair of contacts 28. the.

slidable contacts 29 engage. Of course, other forms of switches may beused to carry out this function.

Mounted in the field circuit of the motor is a magnet coil 3.3 adjacentthe pivoted armature 34 carrying a brake pad 35 adapted to engage therim of a brake disc 36 mounted on the motor shaft J5, and a spring 3?tends to press this brake pad against the disc. Thus when the circuitthrough the motor is closed the magnet 33 is energizedand will move thepad away from the brake disc and allow the motor shaft to turn freely,and immediately the circuit through the motor is broken, the spring 31will press the pad against the disc and quickly stop the motor. Thuswhen the desiredadjustment is secured and the circuit broken themomentum of the motor will not spoil the adjustment. A condenser 59 isconnected across the field coils of the motor to prevent it sending outradio frequency oscillations should the commutator and brushes get tosparking in operation.

Also mounted on the control device 27 is a .control'for the filament ofthe first radio frequency tube 38, so that there is also provided aremote control for controlling the volume of the sound produced. In thepresent embodiment there is mounted on the under side of the lowersectionof the block 27 a pair of spaced resistance wires 39 connected byleads 40 in the cord 26 to the filament 4! of the first radio frequencytube and alsothe A-battery-42. These resistance wires are bridged by aslidable contact 43 which may be adjusted longitudinally of these wiresby means of a button 44 projecting through a slot in the cover plate 45where it is accessible for operation on the other side of the controlblock from the control button 30 for the motor. Thus it will be apparentthat on the control device 2'! which may be held in the hand of theoperator at any desired distance from the set or receiving mechanism isacontrol for the motor which operates the tuning device or devices, andalso a control device for varying the volume of the sound produced. 7

It is desired that there be some indicator to indicatetowhat stationsthe. set is tuned. This indicator may assume various forms but in thepresent construction the front wall 46 of the cabinet is provided withan elongated opening 4? closed by a translucent member 48, such asground glass, mounted in a suitable frame 49 secured over this openingas by screws 50. Connected to one of the movable shafts SI, S2, or '83,in the present case the central shaft S2, is a movable device forprojecting a beam of light on the rea-rof this translucent window sothat it is visible from the front of the cabinet. In the present case asmall box or container is mounted on a shaft 52 of a gear 53, which gearmeshes with a pinion 5% on the shaft S2. The box 5| is adjustable up anddown on the shaft 52 so that it may be adapted to cabinets of differentheights. Mounted in the box 5| is an electric light bulb 55 connected toany suitable source of power, such as the A-battery by a lead 56, theother terminal of the lamp being grounded. In the front end of the wallof the box 55 is a vertical slot so that a narrow beam of light will bethrown from the light on the window d8 as indicated at 58, in Fig. 2.Because the shaft S2 is adapted to be adjusted more than a halfrevolution the pinion 54 is made smaller than the gear 53 so thatturning movement of the box 5! is not as great as the shaft S2 althoughit is proportionate'thereto. Therefore, the shaft S2 may be turned togive maximum adjustment without throwing the beam of light off thewindow 48. The designation for the different stations may be marked onthe glasswindow if desired, as indicated in Fig. 2. Instead of swingingthe lamp it will be obvious a mirror may be mounted to swing andarranged to project a beam of light on the window. r. 7

It is believed the operation will be obvious from the foregoingdescription. As the control device 27 may be held in the hand and isconnected to the cabinet by a flexible cord 26 the operator may bestationed at any point desired and at any distance depending upon thelength of the cord used.

' By merely operating the switch button 30 he may run themotor Hi eitherforwardly or backwardly as desired to adjust the tuning devices Cl, C2,and C3 in either direction to tune in with any station desired. Becauseof the large reduction in the driving ratio between the motor and theshafts SI, S2 andSS through the medium of the worm gear drives theadjustment of these shafts may be made very slow so that there'is nosqueal ing or howling of the set. As the shafts are adjusted the box 5|will be shifted a corresponding amount to swing the beam of light alongthe window 48 and the'operator, if stationed at the front of thecabinet, may watch the movement of this beam of light and determinethereby with what broadcasting station the set is tuned. Im mediatelythe set is tuned in with any station desired and the station comes inwith the desired clearness the motor circuit may be broken by means ofthe button 39 and the motor will be immediately stopped by the brakemechanism as above described, and thus the adjustments may be stoppedimmediately at any point desired. As pointed out above there is also aremote control of the volume of sound through the button 44 on'the otherside of the control block 21. If desired, the top wall of the cabinetmay be made of insulating material such as bakelite and the bindingposts for various electrical connections mounted thereon.

It will thus be apparent that I have provided a simple and' easilyoperated remote control for tuning the set to any station desired andalso for take it to a table at which he is sitting, or the 575 controlmay be given to an invalid in bed so that the set may be tuned to anystation desired and controlled without the operator leaving any of thesepositions.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a radio receiving mechanism including aplurality of tuning devices comprising separate independent units havingadjustable elements, a rotatable shaft for each device, a drivingconnection from the shafts to the respective elements, detachableadjustable connections between the shafts, a motor having rotatabledriving connection with the shafts, and a remote control means for themotor.

2. The combination With a radio receiving mechanism including a tuningdevice having a movable element, a panel having an opening covered witha translucent material, a lamp connected with said element to move incertain timing relation therewith and arranged to throw a beam of lighton said translucent material, a motor, a driving connection from themotor to the movable element, and means for controlling said motor toadjust the element.

3. The combination with a radio receiving mechanism including a tuningdevice having a movable element, a panel having a translucent window,means for throwing a beam of light on said window and connected to movein certain timing relation with said element, power means for adjustingsaid element, and control means for the power means.

4. The combination with a radio receiving mechanism including a tuningdevice having a movable element, a panel having a translucent window,means for throwing a beam of light on said window and connected to movein certain timing relation with said element, an electric motor, adrivlngconnection from the motor to said element for adjusting thelatter, and a remote control for the motor having a flexible connectiontherewith.

5. In combination with a radio receiving mechanism including a tuningdevice having a movable element, a panel having a translucent window,means for throwing a beam of light on said window and connected to movein certain timed relation with said element, and means for adjustingsaid element.

6. The combination with a radio receiving mechanism including aplurality of tuning devices having rotatable adjustable elements,rotatable means for operating said devices, there being a detachablerotatable driving connection from said means to each of the respectiveelements, a motor for driving said means and means remote from saidreceiving mechanism for controlling the operation of the motor.

'1. In combination with a radio receiving mechanism including a tuningdevice having a movable element, a panel having an opening, atranslucent member in the rear of said opening, a lamp member, one ofsaid members connected with said element to move in certain timedrelation therewith to indicate through said opening the position of saidelement, a motor, driving connection from the motor to the element, andmeans for controlling the motor to adjust the element.

8. In combination with a radio receiving mechanism including a tuningdevice having a movable element, a panel having an opening therein, atranslucent indication member in the rear of said opening, a lightmember for throwing a beam of light on said indicator member, one ofsaid members connected to move in certain timed relation with saidelement, and means for adjusting said element, said last means includinga motor and means remote therefrom and connected thereto by flexiblecable for controlling the movement thereof.

LESLIE A. GOULD.

